Owner of famous dog is alive and reunited with 'Susie'

Susie, a 12-year-old Schipperke-Border Collie mix and her owner, Curtis Collins, had a joyful reunion when he found her thanks to the post on Facebook. (Source: Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office)

This is the photo of Susie that touched millions of people when she was photographed standing guard over a body that rescuers thought might be her owner. (Source: Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office)

MOORE, OK - The trembling, mud-spattered dog whose photo went viral Tuesday was not standing watch over her owner's body, as previously thought. Her name is Susie, her owner is named Curtis Collins, and he's alive.

Thanks to Facebook, they have been reunited.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office tweeted her photo on the day the EF-5 tornado devastated Moore. On Tuesday, the OCSO followed up on their Facebook page, saying the terrified little dog was standing watch over a body discovered by first responders. The deputy convinced the dog to leave the side of the victim, and took her to an animal shelter.

The photo was posted with a headline reading "Man's Best Friend to the End," and the sheriff's office wrote that she might have been standing guard over her owner.

Millions of people viewed and commented on the photo. One of them was Sheila Collins, who posted on the Facebook page that the dog belonged to her brother, Curtis Collins, who was desperately looking for her.

"Please don't adopt Susie Collins," she wrote. "She is my brother Curtis' dog and he is alive and the only reason he is not well is that he is looking for Susie."

The deputy who found Susie - and who offered to adopt her - contacted Sheila Collins and helped find her owner for the emotional reunion.

Susie and Curtis Collins live about a half-mile from where she was discovered and Curtis Collins said he didn't know why she was standing guard over the body of a stranger.

Curtis Collins has asked anyone who was moved by Susie's story to make a donation to the Central Oklahoma Humane Society to help other pets who were displaced by the storm and haven't yet found their owners.